South Sudan Becomes the World’s Newest Nation

The people of South Sudan wept in joy as they celebrated their independence, cheering, whistling and dancing down the streets in an event that marked the birth of their new nation.

"We are free at last," they chanted as they waved flags held at the mausoleum of the late rebel leader John Garang, who died just months after signing the peace deal that ended Africa’s longest-running conflict.

People on the corners of dirt streets waved flags and danced in the lights of car headlights, chanting "SPLM o-yei, South Sudan o-yei, freedom o-yei." The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led the rebels who fought the north until 2005 and now dominates the southern government.

The red, white and green flag, raised at half-mast the day before, was hoisted at an independence and flag-raising ceremony in the capital, Juba.

Officially, South Sudan became an independent country as of midnight Saturday. And people didn’t waste time to start the party. They jumped on to the hoods of cars waving banners and screaming “Freedom!” while others spun up clouds of dust on the dirt roads.

By 6 a.m., hundreds were could be seen making their way to a huge graded field opposite the mausoleum for John Garang, the founder of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and considered the father of the nation.

After the declaration of independence was read, at 1:25 p.m. Saturday, joy turned to delirium as Sudan’s flag was lowered and the Republic of South Sudan’s, raised.

In attendance to bear witness on this historic day included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South African President Jacob Zuma. Others  were Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki, former President of Kenya Daniel Moi, and former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
In his speech to the independence ceremony, Sudan president Omar al-Bashir said: "We congratulate our brothers in the south for the establishment of their new state. We share their joy and celebration. The will of the people of the south has to be respected."

South Sudan's sovereignty officially breaks Sudan, Africa's largest nation into two, after a January referendum vote overwhelmingly approved.

The referendum was part of a peace deal (Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)) signed in 2005 that ended decades of civil war pitting a government dominated by predominantly Arab Muslim in the north against Southern black Christians and animists, in a war that has claimed about 2 million lives.

And during the celebrations, some residents paid tribute to relatives killed in the war.

"I lost my family and friends, I am very proud to be the one to hoist our flag on this day," said Sergeant Gordon Dak Diew , who joined the fight to liberate his country at the age of 9 years after he took part in hoisting the flag.

"We lost our brothers, sisters mothers and fathers for this (independence) to happen," said Jackie Adut, who lost some of her family members during the war.

The newly sworn in President preached peace and promised to pursue peace and dialogue to “assure the people of Darfur, Abyei and South Kordofan, we have not forgotten you," referring to three conflict-mired regions.

"When you cry, we cry," he said. "When you bleed, we also bleed.

In Washington DC, President Barack Obama issued a statement recognizing sovereignty of South Sudan.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the dignitaries gathered that his nation has opened an embassy in Juba and appointed an ambassador.

South Sudan joins the world as one of its poorest, with people who fled the bloody conflict coming home to a region whose infrastructure is still lacking with few paved roads or no electricity or running water.

South Sudan sits near the bottom of most human development indicators, according to the UN, including the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates. The vast majority of people live on less than a dollar a day, the highest maternal mortality rate in the world and a 27 per cent literacy rate.

Clashes have erupted recently in the disputed border regions of Abyei and South Kordofan. And despite the 2005 peace deal brokered by United States President George W. Bush administration, forces allied to both sides have continued to clash.

Abyei was a battlefield in the brutal civil war between forces of both sides. A referendum on whether the area should be part of the north or the South has been delayed due to disagreements on who is eligible to vote.

The U.N. Security Council, which voted to send up to 7,000 peacekeepers and 900 uniformed police to South Sudan, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss U.N. membership for the new South Sudan nation.

As foreign dignitaries gathered in Juba to celebrate the new nation, world leaders warned of a tough road ahead.

Mr Salva Kiir, who signed the constitution and took oath of office in front of a jubilant crowd, said South Sudan faces a number of challenges, ranging from conflict, poverty and economic hardships.

“It’s important for us to note that this land has seen many sufferings and deaths,” Mr Kiir said, adding, “It is also important for us to forgive, though we shall not forget…we have been at the receiving end of injustice for the past decades.

Kenya's President Daniel Moi attended the celebrations. His regime played a pivotal role in the 2005 agreement that led to South Sudan's Independence.

Embattled Truth and Reconciliation Chairman Bethwel Kiplagat was also in attendance as well as Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang and his Lands Counterpart James Orengo. Also present were Henry Kosgei, Sally Kosgei. Ms Mirugi (Special Programs) former Finance Minister David Mwiraria and Businessman Fidel Odinga.

MP Splashes Cash to Enter Parliament

Members of Bunge la Mwananchi protest

Kenyan Parliamentarians have had a difficult time entering Parliament today when citizens angry at the government's failure to cushion the ordinary citizens from the pangs of 'manufactured inflation' lead to protests outside Parliament.


Protestors drawn mainly from Bunge la Mwananchi formed a human blockade to the entry of the Parliament prompting every member entering to roll up their car black-tinted windows to conceal them from the sharp eyes of the 'hungry' protestors. 


Others who walking in from their offices across the street at Continental House found themselves face to face with the angry citizens shouting 'Unga for Thirty and Hatutaki condoms, we want Unga'.


Ol Kalau MP Erustus Mureithi had to throw money in the air, sending bewildered protesters to a scamper for the currency notes, as his bodyguards whisked him away into the safety of the Parliament compounds. 


It was Hon Namwamba's phone that went with the protesters according to a policeman who witnessed it and an attempt by one of the protesters to sneak a finger into Deputy Seaker Farah Maalim's back pockets that marred the noble cause today in Nairobi.


Maalim's quick reflex helped him as he jerked powerfully to face the thief behind him, who had now retreated into the mob.


The convoy of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka made a U-turn never to turn back, and so was Charity Ngilu's car chauffered by a lady.


'It was a protest that sent the message as we intended it.' Fred Odhiambo of Bunge la Mwananchi shouted into the loudspeaker.


The march that began inside Uhuru Park around midday gathered momentum as the people marched through the city centre, with a prayer around the statue of Dedan Kimathi. They marched along to the Ministry of Finance where they demanded that the minister (Uhuru Kenyatta) address them, an effort in futility. The y later marched to the PM's office and to Office of the President.

At Parliament gate, there was a scamper among the protesters when a group went away to Nyayo House to protest against the petroleum price hikes.


Yesterday, the government announced that tax on kerosene had been scrapped temporarily which did not go down well with the citizens.


They demanded that the Vice president refunds the money used on the so called 'shuttle diplomacy 'with interest' and an immediate resettlement of IDPs.

Kenya Is Bigger, ATale of Arrogance and Hegemony.

You would say that the fear of the leadership of Kenya in a Raila regime is somewhat overblown.

I will take you back to 1963, may be a little while before. When the British government of the day was warming up to the idea of an independent Kenya.

Jomo Kenyatta who would become the first Prime Minister of the new Republic of Kenya was in jail in Kapeguria. Probably not one of the most brilliant minds in Kenya in those days, Jaramogi  Odinga,himself a defeatist coward was one of  the first people to say ‘Kenyatta tosha’.

At independence the white men  released from detention one of the fiercest looking bearded cowards of Independence struggle from prison and the other cowards went on to have their tails under their pants and this man who had changed his name numerous times ascended to the presidency of the Republic of Kenya. Little is known of his academia or his place and role in the fight for the country’s autonomy.

How would it be that two tribes came to create enmity, mistrust and a simmering hate between them beyond sense and reason?

 A keen look and you will find an underlying similarity between two tribes, the difference between zebras will be obvious.

They belong to the same country, are governed by the same, common set of laws, they go through the same educational system, they eat the same food and share the same destiny as a nation, Luos suffer joblessness just like Kikuyus.

 The fight for independence according to official history was the result of many tribes of Kenya that had the absolute inclusivity of even the collaborators of the colonialist agenda.

There goes a story: The ethnic Luo as they are known throughout the region of East Africa is a voluble, articulate and organized lot as compared to their Bantu brothers. In Uganda they were the original author of the celebrated Buganda Civilization when they fused together in the early centuries of migration. The tale goes on:  Baganda, a Bantu-speaking ethnic people of present day Central Uganda borrow heavily from ethnic Luo dialect.

That for example, they Bantulized the Luo word oganda to Baganda, or people in English. That it is also true that the first King Oyoo of Tooro was a Luo, it so goes.

These two examples are open to any criticism. I am not responsible for lack of any justification; verbal or written. But it shows something about inter-ethnic cooperation that began way in the ancient Africa. The power of ethnic cohesion is way beyond Michuki’s torn socks and Maina Njenga’s Mungiki or Ruto’s Kalenjin march against PEV victim’s justice.

NB: am not responsible for your ignorance hence forth.

Back to Kenya, the true founding fathers of this country’s liberation are not Kenyatta or Odinga or their sons. There existed a nationalistic ideology at all. By the time the white man arrived, there wasn’t Kenya as a nation, in fact here existed tribes under ghee-lotion-skin and tobacco munching red-teeth elders with wisdom to declare war or pray for the rains, who did not know peace.

My grandmother told of how the Kalenjin and Luos fought every now and then. The diluted Lwanda Magere folk tale that has since been retold to romantically fit a misguided national psyche was the epitome of the bloody struggle between Luos and Kalenjins.

Many lives were lost, houses burnt and children and women abducted. The abducted boys were circumcised and became Kalenjin warriors. My grandmother told me of her relative who was caught by the Kalenjin in Agoro area of present Nyakach district. This is as late as approximately 1910 when she was a teenager.

 The boy would contact his family later, “used to meet us near River Sondu”. She told me of how her family was unable to raise 200 heads of cattle to pay as ransom for the boy’s release from Kalenjin captivity lest he be initiated and assimilated. He was probably circumcised by the Kalenjin and they never heard from him again.

At independence a Kikuyu ascended to power with the promise of a free prosperous Kenya. The Luos pretended to like, but believing they were the best placed and able to lead. It is true, and understandable that Kikuyus were obsessed by their loss of land to the gun-trotting Brits, and livelihood.

Before Krapf and settlers, the Kikuyu tilled their land for subsistence and sold the surplus to the dry and hungry Ukamba. Krapf never succeeded in pacifying them. They subsequently went to the bushes to fight the whiteman’s occupation of their homeland.

The Luo in their style believed Kenyatta would lead and they would be the ones to run government.

The Luos with nothing to loose back in Nayanza were the labourers and managers at these farms, their children went to the white man’s schools and got good education that is the modern European culture. They became better managers and accountants and lawyers and clerks and doctors and teachers and name it. These while young Kikuyus were hunted down as either Mau Mau or potential and were generally uneducated.

According to Peter Kabibi Kinyanjui, former MP for Kikuyu, any one who went to school in his time was a British sympathizer in the eyes and mentality of Mau Mau.  And they would lynch a ‘traitor’. He says it was by good luck that he went to school.

Then the Kikuyus whose kids would go to school smoothly were the home-guards and cooks and soldiers and the ones that got lucky and came to Nairobi. The Mau Mau raided schools and abducted young men and women and recruited them in their ranks. Yes you had child solders in Kenya at the height of a bloody independence struggle.

Kenyatta’s name features nowhere even less prominently in the books of Mau Mau. But the kleptocratic rule and regime endeared him to the House of Mumbi.

That the house of Mumbi is known by the sound of Kenya shilling coin jingle was but a comradiere joke that came due to the Kikuyu’s love for quick money business ventures. It is something of a belief that a Kikuyu will have little patience for the processing. A welder in Kiambu once told me that my people are not keen on such jobs as welding or shoe repair job because of the slow on revenue. A typical Mumbist would like to go for ready-made and trade at whole-sale of finished products rather than go through the sparks and fires.

With Kenyatta in power, loans became easy for his close hench, government funds were diverted. He grabbed more land. A story is told of Kenyatta going out on a land survey of Taita area. He fell a sleep in the car, no one was allowed to awake the mighty President. So he woke up after 6 hours drive at 60 kph and said, Wow, sasa hii ndiyo nchi yangu!”. And the surveyors put beams and three-quarters of Taitaland went.

On the other side the opposition (read Luo) watched from the fence. Getting poorer and poorer by the day. Government offices became Kikuyu affair. Barrack Obama’s father lost his job and was later ‘assassinated’ for his forthright opposition to the primitive way of doing things of his ‘Kikuyu superiors’ as one old man from his kin in Kendu Bay told me.

How a man who few months back at independence was poor with only lice-infested blanket from prison became rich overnight and own half the Republic’s land to his title is simply explained by greed, utter impunity and lack of common sense.

Then there came the goat-herder turn politician from Turgen who by virtue of Kikuyu misfortune of miscalculation became president of intellectual Kenya for 24 years. He ruled both the rich Kikuyu and the ‘intellectual’ Luos with heavy hand beyond their money and intellect. He manufactured a coup in 1982 to consolidate power the more, or an excuse to have his tribesmen in army and police. No wonder all police have some ungodly accent at night.

In his allegiance to the hand that put him in power Moi tried to bequeath the country’s leadership mantle to the son of the big bearded snake.

 Uhuru Kenyatta had by the time hadn’t an iota of idea what the presidency of a country like Kenya meant. Or the problems, challenges, or opportunities the country was facing. There’s not a little doubt that nothing has changed to him.

He chaired an ‘emergency’ meeting at State House Nairobi at the height of the post election violence, that reportedly took contribution from top Kikuyu businessmen and women to transport vigilante to Naivasha that wreaked havoc on the innocent.

The Kikuyu launched a retaliatory attack on Luos, resulting in a bloodbath in Naivasha. Mr. Kenyatta in his element ‘our people’ mentality reiterated his plans to do the same should violence break out again in the country.

 It should be remembered that Mr. Kenyatta was whisked by state security from an after Thirsty Thursday stupor one morning in a USA college where he was scoring Sups and was put on a plane back to Kenya to run for president.

After an ‘insensible campaign trail’ to him in 2002, Moi pronounced him the heir apparent to the Moi’s murderous and repressive regime of 24 years, the same government that saw chipukizi William Samoei Ruto and Cyrus Jirongo rise through what one observer called lynchings and waylaying of KANU opponents. The 500 shilling note was named after Jirongo’s name unofficially. They printed and bribed the electorate with counterfeit money to retain Moi in power.

 Uhuru had lost his Gatundu bid and Moi had to split the constituency to let Uhuru’s family vote him to Parliament after uneventful but drunken stint as nominated numb nut in Parliament.

Interestingly to his family, he is reportedly had been a waste, a black sheep, if it was not for Moi who injected more capital to his estates to help build an image and the family estate in his name had been plundered by non other than his own wussy management style . No wonder he was reported to have resorted to heavy drinking when he was named among PEV suspects destined for the ICC. It is rumoured in the diplomatic circles how his mother visited the old Queen of England to beg for Royal Family’s intervention, which the queen gladly welcomed, given the job Kenyatta did for the British interest in Kenya after independence.

It is not a surprise that the AU is endorsing Kenya’s ungodly bid to pull out of the Rome Statute, fronted in the diplomatic offence by opportunist and CV-less anti-reformist VP Kalonzo Musyoka, another Kenyan “leader with nothing for his country but the self drive of the loin, and a personal crusade to avert a Raila (Luo) Presidency” Says a Bunge member.

But looked keenly, soberly and pragmatically, the country is suffering from misguided political maneuverings by leaders at the helm.  Think about it this way. When violence broke out after the bungled election in 2007, Kibera burnt almost to the ground, neighbour turned against neighbour. Suddenly you were not Otieno’s tribe, and Njuguna ‘s. a brand new form of altruism entered the fore. Who lives in Kibera anyways? The poor of the poor.

As Mathare streets lined with the dead, and houses billowed in arson’s wake, the up-market Nairobi thrived with life as usual, members of the political elite were safe, their children pushed trolleys full of meaty and veggie shopping and the elite arranged flights outside the country “should this thing get worse”.

The common Mwananchi was going hungry and thirsty but the supermarkets in Westlands looked a distant irony from the burning Kenya in Naivasha or Kiambaa. The poor’s flesh roasted like the red meat at Choma Base, all these while Anyang Nyongo called for mass action, and Hon. Martha Karua spit fire at the same people she wants their vote now. Lest we forget.

When Raila celebrated his birthday anniversary last month, the guests were his best and sworn opponents and, allies, mingling drinking and smoking and bribing journalists for favourable narratives in the good-for-nothing newspaper columns.

At the Constitutional Referendum victory party in his Karen backyard last year, the same elite glad-handed the media like in a Hollywood party pad. How much was the celebrations worth? Of course we should celebrate a good win, but to some modest extent, since the IDPs are still in the cold!

Just for once the country needs to go forward. The time is now, the people for that is us. No one else.

Ruto is re-arming the Rift reportedly. Mungiki just shaved their heads, skin-heads...? Kalonzo is keen on the presidency; ODM is wounded beyond the PM’s show of unseen might.

I fear a Kalonzo presidency. Just like aKikuyu should fear a Luo presidency.The game of numbers of Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo might turn the tables in 2012. All these people have a questionable past

A black man’s fear  pain is his own undoing, that an Egyptian stunt is almost impossible here is a sad fact. But those who could lead such an activity are only keen on donor money in their civil society outfits.

It would be good for change to have a president outside Central Kenya or Kalenjin land, and it is obvious Mr. Musyoka might be headed to State House. Again the game of numbers. We are still driven by ‘it is our turn to eat’ philosophy that we will let, regrettably, the politics of old Kanu rule us again.

So who is the way forward? It is me. It is you. The individual is that man. We have only one chance to make this country better for our children and generations to come. The sum total of my input and yours will be the a result called social change.

Uganda will hold a general election later this month. They have to understand that a free country in Uganda good for Kenya and Tanzania and it also true in the EAC members.

We are all one people, with varied capabilities. Arrogance, impunity, stealing from government coffers, hating your brother or sister because s/he is not from your tribe is as a sin just like having your younger sister raped by a beast. They all deserve same strongest condemnation.

And so is not taking action to the right honourable thing of making your country a better place. Isn’t it a pity that at this point in time we still fight over who is CJ or who becomes Budget Comptroller?

The fobias and manias don’t hold. For both the ruling elite and the following mass are powered by ignorance and idiocy like an Intel processor inside a Dell PC.

Think about it. How many Kikuyus do you meet out there without shoes, poor and live in the slum? How many Luos are out there capable of great hearts and intellect, but who are poor?

It is in the person, not the community or tribe, Ramogi, Mumbi, Kamba, Luhya, Giriama and all other Kenyans.

 Who will save you?

The ideal Kenyan president therefore must base his leadership (not power) on informed pragmatic and sound principles, and inclusive presidential  doctrine, not the dead-on-arrival ‘my people’ façade.

‘Yourself’ is the simple answer against an arrogant tribalist and plunderer. Now get ready to rebuild the Area Code 254 in 2012.

Wanuri Kahiu Back with 'Pumzi'

Following her critically acclaimed film From a Whisper, Kenya’s multi-award winning director is back with a new film, Pumzi. In an interview African Screens’ Don Omope speaks with Wanuri Kahiu about her new film, her quest to engage more with her Pan-Africanness. Read more here

Director of Pumzi, Wanuri Kahiu (R) and lead actress, Kundzani Moswela on set 

 

Was Pumzi a conscious decision on your part to shoot a sci-fi film or was this necessitated by the script you had in hand?

I never actually had an interest in Sci-fi, Pumzi was written in two years and was a combination of many different conversations I had with people around me.

The first conversation was about a world were you had to buy fresh air. Another conversation was about the need for a virtual museum, a museum of virtual natural history were we will have stimulated images of nature because our relationship with our environment is not sustainable.

It was a series of different conversations with different people that came together as Pumzi.

There are subtle similarities between the 1976 film Logan’s Run and Pumzi, were you familiar with the works of film director Michael Anderson? 

I have heard of the film by Michael Anderson but have never seen it, I tend to get a lot questions saying sci-fi isn’t an African film genre, so when I was creating this film I stayed away from watching sci-fi films not to be influenced wrongly by such films because I wanted this sci-fi to be a uniquely African experience.

How did you go about researching your film?

I knew specifically what I wanted to achieve and I watched fantasy films to see how their sets are built because they have beautiful sets. When I write I do visual research at the same time.

I believe in sharing my ideas, so when I write I speak to people around me, telling them this is the idea I am doing and they are usually very resourceful, sharing ideas with me and pointing me in directions of things I might not have been aware of, but are very useful to the formation of my idea.

You have come a long way from your university film ‘Ama’s Mama’, then you shot ‘Ras Star’ and went on to direct the multi-award wining ‘From a whisper’ and now we have ‘Pumzi’ - what would you say is your approach and perhaps philosophy as a visual story teller?

This is very tied in with my identity; I have to chose very carefully which type of films I make, because it’s very difficult to make films in this part of the world.

I have to be very careful about our representation of Africa because there are many old stereotypes still around, we have to show a different image of Africa, a new Africa people can relate to, I don’t see this as a choice I see it as mandatory.

We show an image Africans can identify with; stylistically sometimes my films choose me I don’t choose them. And within these films I have to find a permanence that resonates with me, and one thing I continue to work with is the idea of belonging… and this resonates across my films.

I use my experience to explain the experiences of others and I feel more often than not we Africans are often looking for a sense of identity, belonging, a sense of place. 

Pumzi questioned our relationships with our environment, are you an environmentalist and if you are, is there any issue close to your heart?

Yes I am an environmentalist; I think that anybody who says he or she is not is really denying. Our relationship with water and things related to water is close to my heart and that’s part of the reason I wrote Pumzi.

I don’t like bottled water because it takes more water to make bottle water. Pumzi is my anger, my anger about the way we continue to live as people. 

What qualities must a story satisfy to be of interest to you as a filmmaker? 

I have a very particular interest and a resolute one too. I must say in strong female characters, and this has becomes more and more important for me everyday.

Also my stories need to take personalities out of the norm, be it emotionally or otherwise, I am drawn to good stories and the possibilities of a good story, because a good story always sells irrespective of location or geography. 

A trend I have noticed in your films, is the use of very strong female lead characters, (using Ras Star as a case in point) are your films mirrored on your experiences of everyday life in Kenya and the role women play?

There is this curiosity that comes out when people ask me what it is like to be a female filmmaker? I don’t know I have never been a man.

This is the most natural place for me to write from, following closely on that, when I write female characters I see more and more the need for them, case in question, Nina Simone.

This was an emotionally devastating story for me as a woman; and I feel it is the duty of any female filmmaker to champion the writing of robust female characters that are challenging, and not the stereotypical depictions of female characters being very maternal, motherly type characters, or beautiful women weather attainable or not attainable, there is more to the female character than that. 

Which African filmmakers have inspired your film-making and are there other African filmmakers whose work you have found to be of interest?

Recently I am interested in people of my generation like Caroline from Uganda, she shot the nice film Imani, but also the older generation, Ousman Sembene, Oumar Sissoko, Harooun etc.

But I grew up on a literary background so my main influence have come from writers, like Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri.

What new thing have you found out recently that as being of interest to you? 

As a result of Pumzi, travelling has become dear and close to my heart, I discovered the idea of my pan-africanness, what it means to be pan-African in modern Africa, and one of the things I want to do is to travel more across the continent and learn about my pan-africaness. 

Reviewing the film, Pumzi by Wanuri Kahiu

Good Night Kibera Launch

 

Since the 2007 post election violence, the slums of Kibera have been perceived as a place of danger, violence, extreme sadness and despair. But, 2011 is the time for Kibera to shine as one of the friendliest slums in Nairobi. 

A place where there is hope rather than despair, where happiness exists rather than sadness; a place where people can achieve their dreams regardless of economic or social status. In 2011, Goodnight Kibera will be showcasing over 12 months, a series of short films documenting the lives of the Kibera community. Goodnight Kibera symbolizes the beginning and end of each day in which individual residents of Kibera will guide us through their daily activities/lifestyle.

These will include people such as football players, local water vendors, matatu drivers/touts, local area and religious leaders, shoe shiners, activists, music producers and performing artists and many more. The aim of Goodnight Kibera is to show life in Kibera after the 2007 post election violence and how this has impacted on their present living status. Contrary to popular belief, the project will enable a positive light to shine on the Kibera community with a focus on the forthcoming general elections in 2012.

The 12 part series will merge together to provide an overall view of life in Kibera and Goodnight Kibera will focus on the following areas: * Political * Individual lifestyle * Music and performing arts * Religion * Equality These areas have been chosen particularly due to the ways in which they influence the development of the Kibera community. Each of the characters that will be shown in the Goodnight Kibera short stories will have a unique influence to the Kibera community, which will then be presented to the global community. 

Moreover, the characters that will be assisting in the production will have the opportunity to tell their story as they see it and be rewarded for their time. This reward will provide not only much needed income, but also greater representation as a citizen in the global community rather than an individual living in the slums. In producing these short stories, everything that will assist in the production will be taken from the Kibera community. This includes: manpower, music, location and their original ideas. Overall, it is hoped that Goodnight Kibera short stories will demonstrate that in spite of all that has happened or been said since the post election violence, the Kibera community still continues to flourish and that the future belongs to those who dare to dream. Goodnight ndio riddim – the new greeting in Kibera town!"

Letter From New York

By Osei G Kofi | AfricanColours.com

Africa My Love ... Cindy The Heart

The Fishing Dutchmen in Malindi

From left: Captain Robert, The Penn Brothers van Berkel, and Jan Mas with and Emiel van de Werf at dinner inside the luxurious Clue.

On a typically humid afternoon in Malindi town tuk tuk vans rave their way on the miraged tarmack past Malindi Museum and the old Poruguese cemetry just a few metres from the rotting Vasco da Gama pillar. 

A right turn unveils a welcome sign painted with two sailfish. The Sailfish Club is for fishermen and lovers of the fishing game from all over the world who enjoy the sport in the coastal town of Malindi.

 

Known for its deep blue waters with abundant fish foods (plankton), Malindi coast has been described by many fishermen sometime referred to as anglers, as one of the big game fishing paradise of the world.

To attest to this, one of the world's leading fishing equipment maker, Penn, oganizes the 'Penn Challenge’, a tournament that attracts anglers and enthusiasts from all over the world tha takes part every year off Malindi. Explained one fisherman.

Emiel van de Werf has lived in Malindi town for the last 23 years since he came as a toursist. An astute and successful Dutch businessman, he landed in Malindi away from the hard and cold winter of his native home south of Holland, "just to take a short holiday" .

His love for deep-sea fishing ensured he returned, and settled 'for good in Malindi'.

In 2001 he entered the world record with a catch of 162.02 Kg silver tip

shark, and an ‘all-tackle record’.

He has since become a Kenyan citizen, and runs his businesses in the sun-drop town with aplomb. His own a resort in the heart of the town; Sail Fish Club, operates almost solely for deep sea fishing sportsmen and women.

The black-tip shark caught by van Berkel aboard Tega weighed about 70 kilos.

Two fishing Dutchmen, known among the fishing fraternity as the Penn Brothers, Jan Maas and Frans van Berkel were already enjoying their game in the sea from the club in a town informally known as 'Little Milan' , already in preparation to defend their title in this year's Pen Challenge in March. 

Last year’s championship was being fished by over twenty five fishermen from Holland and Belgium on eleven boats. 

The duo left in the early hours, before the sparrows are awake, the air crisp and fresh and there is a light breeze blowing on your face, and the sky is black and the stars are clear and bright.

 
And then they swang. The motors were warm now, the captain pushing the throttles and made the boat leap out the water towards an orange line on the Arriving at their boat, it was methodically prepared and checked,

horizon as sun then rose making a golden highway on the water, 

sea birds birds crying, the water swishing past boat's hull.

They arrived at their first way point, set their lines way out towards the sun

following the golden highway whilst scanning the horizon for any (bird) activity.

"Presence of sea birds indicates presence of bait fish", explained the captain.

Then suddenly they see something in the distance, "the game is on", 

shouted one of the crew in Swahili, and they quickly headed towards it.

For a about half an hour, they trawled.

The powerful motor engine's sound renting the ocean air. Occasional marine communication radio could be heard on the background each vessel spread across the sea announcing their updates. A tuna here and wahoo there!

Then the out-rigger snapped as they arrived. This was the moment, and

the split second seemed like eternity as they turned around to watch the rod

suddenly bend, the line go tight and the reel starts to growl and a large shape

leaped out of the water repeatedly making splashes as it hit the blue water.

Everyone on the boat was filled with adrenalin and the hook was set, scuttling

around clearing the lines whilst the rod stayed bent as Frans reeled in the line

the first wahoo for bait.

Deep sea fishing is a great adventure sport, a chance to get out to the open seas to explore what the deep waters can give as an adventure.

The wind, the waves, the view it is a perfect weekend ticket away from
the bustling metropolis where the only chance to a relaxing ocean view
is when on the pages of a travel magazine.

Watching how to lure, reel and haul a mammoth catch, one also gets to meet underwater creatures that you only enjoy watching on television.

Beautiful dolphins, sharks - yes Mas caught a 70 kilos white tip shark ...
tunas, marlins, wahoos, and sea turtles all give a spectacular scene as the vessel chartered deeper waters in which they live.

"For those who like new adventures and challenges, deep sea fishing will
come as a new frontier. And it is not a team sports", as Emile warned.

"You have to struggle with the fish. You either win or the monster on the other side of the line will. Luring and hooking the catch is only half of the adventure, you battle with your fish".

When he broke the world record, Emiel's certificate awarded by International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognized an 'all-tackle record'. 'It took him over two hours to bring the shark onto his boat.

One has to keep in mind that he was in the open sea. On the second day of fishing aboard Captain Robert's luxurious boat Clueless, they had traveled 70 kilometers into the Indian Ocean for an overnight trawl with depths of sometimes over 3000 feet but only chanced on a

tuna in the early evening.

"Fish in these areas are strong swimmers, something that they use to elude predators, bigger fish and yes, us, anglers" Says Captain Robert as he sipped

his coffee after a turbulent night of unclear waters full of green debris.

This game has a lot of surprises in store most often times, even seasoned fishermen like Emiel aren't spared from it. "But you have to work for it, it is part skill and part luck, the unexpected will comes when you get to face a biter at the end of your line, the one that you have been patiently and fervently looking forward to".

"Then a battle ensues. A fishing battle is like a duel", warns Emiel.

"A display of strength and endurance, man over fish or fish over man". To fishing aficionados, the battle is termed as the 'dance' says Captain Robert.

Once Frans hauled a fish out of the water, it was amazing to see a fisherman's face, even experienced ones like Emile flurry through a heap of emotions as they view the catch. They hugged and patted each other and

promised a toast later, which they did.

With the element of surprise and a handful of luck, one may even catch
fish of unimaginable size, shape, colour and most of all, species.

Remember when a crew of a Kenyan trawling vessel MV Venture II caught
an odd looking fish that turned out to be a species, Coelacanth, long
thought to be extinct some 65 million years ago.

There was never a trip where the anglers got the same results. Every trip was different from the previous which gives this sport its edge, as Frans says.

As the sport continues to add the much needed direct foreign currency

to the tourism economy, much more still needs to be done to attract more anglers and enthusiasts for a full exploit of the potential. 

Councilor Otieno has headed the Malindi Town Hall Tourism board formed to oversee ways of improving the sector at the  municipality, and he conceded that “to attract more visitors to Malindi,a lot still needs to be done, in terms of beach cleaning, and even line the beaches with beautiful palm trees among others.”

Says Emiel: "proper publicity by the Kenya Tourism Board is yet to capture the deep sea fishing aspect of Kenyan tourism at the coast", and he believes that "the image that he got as a young boy in Holland of Kenya of only mountains, lions and Maasai roaming barefoot must change".

He likens countries like Malaysia's eco-tourist strides in recent past to planned meditated publicity plan, saying "tourism is an effective development tool, that would no doubt have a major positive impact in Malindi”.

He believes the Kenya Tourism Board has a job to do. "Necessary interventions should be put in place to improve the quality of tourism in general in the country so that fishermen will choose to come here instead of other destinations"

At the fishing club in Malindi, one can see the passion of the anglers as they gather after a day's excursion, and Captain Robert summarizes it when asked why, of all the places, Kenya, for his Australian-built expensive boat, Clueless: "Malindi is going to be the world capital for bill fishing soon" He said.

Managing Kikuyu - Kalenjin conflict in Ndeffo, Njoro, Kenya

 DETRIBALIZING THE NATION: LESSONS FROM THE RIFT VALLEY PROVINCE IN KENYA

 

Ogiek tribes children stand near tree stamp in Mauche settlement scheme of Mau Forest Complex in the Rift Valley Kenya. (Reuters)

•  MANAGING KIKUYU - KALENJIN CONFLICT IN NDEFFO, NJORO KENYA

  
  

  eat me|102by138cm|acrylics on canvas

The first of a series of exhibitions known as 'Spherique Indian Ocean Art' is on at The Plan Hotels in Malindi. The Gallery which has its base in the Maldives has great plans for Indian Ocean Art – “to ignite the art scene at the Indian Ocean countries’ coasts” aiming to foster creativity beyond the touristic souvenir arts and crafts to more contemporary visual arts as spelt out on the show fliers. 

The exhibition offers said to be an opportunity to redefine the perception of art at the coast beyond the crafts is co-sponsored by the Plan Hotels.

It is a visual arts exhibition showcasing over 15 major artists including Adrian Nduma, Charles Kamya, Douglas Musyoki, Erick Shitawa, Geoffrey Mugwe, Idi Omari, Joshua Mainga, Joseph Cartoon, Mary Ogembo, Peter Elungat, Peter Ngugi, Peter Kenyanya, Robert Karanja, Salah Ammar, Sebastian Kiarie and Yassir Ali.

The show opened on the 26^th December and will continue for four months at the Coconut Beach, Tropical Village, Malindi Beach and Dream of Africa resorts - all part of the Plan Hotels.

The exhibition is organised and curated by William Ndwiga of The Little Art Gallery, Nairobi, an outfit that is slowly redefining ‘the visual art exhibition space’ locally. It has in the resent past one year organised exhibitions in spaces such as public areas and people’s homes with the aim of ‘taking Kenyan art to the people’.

The concept of Indian Ocean Art was hatched by Mr Carlo Cipolini, an art lover from Switzerland with the support of the Maldivian Government where he has business interests. He says the idea is to be having an annual international visual arts exhibition rotating around the Indian Ocean countries with Dubai as the hub.

These countries include artistically rich Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Tanzania and Kenya. It is hoped that as the exhibition grows, so will its coverage both in countries and genres of creativity exposed.

The project aims to cultivate the Indian Ocean region as an authority in arts and culture with an international export and tourism appeal.

And Ndwiga says that the coordinating body is The Spherique Indian Ocean Art Gallery which has created a network of local country links that are responsible for marshaling the local art scene towards the exhibition. “In Kenya, The Little Art Gallery is doing the ground work”.

Although the project has kicked off, organisers are still sourcing for funds and partners in the effort. The main sponsors who have been approached include HSBC, Emirates and Plan Hotels – the latter having so far come in into foray with a hosting offer.

“At the country levels, the organisers will be very interested in working hand in hand with the local Arts, Culture and Tourism organs of the government and private sector. The first international Indian Ocean Art exhibition will be in the Maldives and Dubailater in the year” He adds.

And the general sentiment of the people towards the exhibition is “amazing; they are, (visitors) especially captivated by the quality of Art on show. Ndwiga juxtaposed that it is such a breath of fresh air from the constantly duplicated ‘red Maasai’ paintings and shabbily done wildlife art on the Kenyan curio shops and beaches”

In March, The Plan Hotels intends to make an exclusive invitation to the exhibition to participating artists, Kenyan art collectors, private and public sector dignitaries with an interest for arts and culture in the country.